Newton’s Tom Godfredsen has dream job

Tom Godfredsen says two things influenced his life the most growing up — football and strength and conditioning.

Doing both at Newton Senior High School means Godfredsen has a dream job.

“I have a dream job,” Godfredsen said. “The two most influential things in my life are football and strength and conditioning. I feel very fortunate.”

Godfredsen’s two positions at the high school are Strength and Conditioning Coach and an assistant varsity football coach. On the football team, Godfredsen is in charge of the offense and formation of the game plan. He oversees the quarterbacks, tight ends and split ends.

“I watch film whenever and wherever I can,” Godfredsen said. “I always have a notepad with me so I can write down any notes or thoughts I have.”

Godfredsen’s busiest time of the year is football season or from August to November. He often works seven days a week during those months with preparation for the next week’s game taking place Saturday and Sunday.

“The most demanding time is obviously during football season,” Godfredsen said. “The most time consuming part of the job is preparation for class and for games.”

Newton’s football tradition speaks for itself. But one of the biggest criticisms over the past few years comes from fans feeling the offense is predictable or simple.

“The big misconception is that ‘T’ is a simple offense,” Godfredsen said. “It is not that though. I am glad people think it is simple because if other teams do that, they’ll be in trouble. It all comes down to execution. If you have one breakdown, the play could be dead. Looking back at the past 20 years, it has proven itself.”

While Godfredsen is not coaching the offense on the football field, he is in the weight room, teaching classes on strength and conditioning.

He is one of very few Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists who work for high schools in the state of Iowa. He has been certified for 11 years and also is a USAW Club Coach. He graduated from Northwestern College with a degree in physical education and a minor in health.

His biggest responsibilities within the weight room involve teaching athletic strength and conditioning and general strength and conditioning courses during school and supervising the weight room before and after school.

“Most people think the kids are just in here lifting weights,” Godfredsen said. “It is more than that though. We are doing stretches, plyometrics, core training, agilities, foot quickness and speed development.”

During the offseason, Godfredsen stays busy by evaluating football players, visiting coaches around the state and meeting with the football staff to discuss strategies. And he watches a lot of film.

“I love watching film, some people don’t though,” Godfredsen said.

He is currently involved with Cardinal Power, which runs each summer for eight weeks. The one-hour workout sessions take place from 6 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Besides setting up the workouts for Cardinal Power, Godfredsen also designs workouts for every athletic team at the school.

“Each team is required to lift, and I put together the workouts for each team,” Godfredsen said. “I spend a lot of time putting workouts together, too.”

Besides being very busy at school with football and weights, Godfredsen also has a full-time job at home, with his wife Kay and his 4-year-old daughter Kennedy.

He has been married to Kay, who works in Des Moines as an attorney, for 12 years, and the couple is expecting another child in December. He does Dad duties in the morning and after school during the football offseason. He says communication with Kay is key.

“She is very understanding and very supportive,” Godfredsen said. “And whenever the team doesn’t do well, she cares, too. She knows the investment that we all put into it.”

And the investment is a dream come true.